9th April 1926 - Rural District Council

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Rural District Council

A meeting of the Rural District Council followed, Captain H.H. Williams presiding.

SURVEYOR'S REPORT

The Surveyoer presented his report as follows:

ISOLATION HOSPITAL

No cases of infectious disease have been notified during the month, and the hospital remains close.

WATERWORKS

The consumption of water during the past month has been:

1st week 241,000 gallons.

2nd week 237,000 gallons.

3rd week 247,000 gallons.

4th week 249,000 gallons.

The water level remains stationary at 43 feet, being one foot higher than at April last.

A further supply of paraffin is required.

PETROLEUM LICENCES

Charles Borlace, of Cumberlow Green, and Walter North of Buntingford, make application for licences to store petrol The storage is quite satisfactory and the licences are recommended to be granted.

HOUSING

Mr A.E. Woodford Ward, of H.M. Office of Works, came down on Tuesday last and visited various building sites. He inspected the whole of the works to which the accounts relate, and was supplied with full details and receipts for all the works as executed.

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The licences were granted.

The Clerk stated that it was proposed to amalgamate the Buntingford Rural District Council to Royston Urban Council and the Ashwell Rural District Council for the purpose of rating assessments. There would be a committee of 15.

TENDERS

Tenders were received for scavenging, team labour and material, the following being accepted:

Scavenging - Mr C.H. Poulton, 11/- per day.

Team Labour - Mr E.J. Crane, 9/6 per day.

Supply of Road Material - Mr Brazier, 11/- per yard and Mr C.H. Poulton, 10/6 per yard.

ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY

A letter was read from the North Metropolitan Electric Supply Company asking for permission to place a post on the Council's property at the waterworks. This was granted.

ROADS

The Clerk stated that the County Council were considering the question of taking over the roads which at present came under the local Council. Captain Morris said it would be a good thing if the County Council took them all over, and the Surveyor was instructed to submit plans of the roads in question.

COUNTY COUNCIL SUPERANNUATION SCHEME

The Clerk read a communication from the County Council with reference to the proposed superannuation scheme.

The Chairman said it only affected 3 of the Council's officials and he thought it would be best to get their views on the matter.

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The Chairman of the Council (Mr Claud Fraser) who was absent on account of illness, was elected to serve on the Council of the County Playing Fields Association.

9th April 1926 - Buntingford Board of Guardians

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Board of Guardians

Monthly Meeting

Big Increase in Tramps

The monthly meeting of the Buntingford Board of Guardians was held at the Board Room on Thursday of last week.

Present - Mr W.J. May (in the chair), Capt. H.H. Williams, Capt. E.T. Morris, the Rev. L.W. Wright, Messrs. H.C. Marshall, C. Hummerstone, H.E. Dudley, G. Graves, E. Bygrave, F.B. Cannon, A.J. Hayes and G.C Wilson, with the Clerk (Mr E.C. Clarke), the Master (Mr F.W. Butler), and the Relieving Officer (Mr H.H. Macklin).

MASTER'S REPORT

The Master reported as follows:

Number of inmates - men 18, women 14, children 2. Total 34. Corresponding period last year 40.

TRAMPS

During the past month 56 casuals have been received, as against 13 for the corresponding period last year. On some nights we have had 12, although we have only accommodation for 10.

The majority of the tramps are young men under 40 years of age, who find tramping no hardship since the regulations have been altered. They are insolent, and make it known that they will not work two days for one night's lodging, and as each tramps is supplied with a chopper I do not think it safe to enforce the order. It is only those Unions that have proper constructed cells who can keep tramps for two days.

The blankets (24), which has been more than sufficient for our requirements in the past, are not enough now, and tenders for a further supply, also nightshirts, are before the Board today. It is not long ago since the Board were called upon to relieve 3595 tramps a year, which at the present cost of diet would mean a big charge upon the rates. The first year I was appointed we had 43 tramps, and I have been able to keep them somewhere near that number until the recent new regulations came into force.

After 20 years' experience with tramps, it is my opinion that the majority (with few exceptions) do not respond to kindly treatment, but look upon it as weakness on the part of the officers in dealing with them. Would the Board kindly consider the telephone being fixed in my office so that I am in close touch with the police?

GIFTS

Gifts of books have been receiving from the following and have been much appreciated: Mrs Greg, Mr C. Hummerstone, Mrs H. May, Miss Bowers, Mrs Hamilton and Miss Lushington.

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The Chairman said he was sure the members felt that the Master ought to be supported, and it was agreed to install the telephone at once.

TENDERS

The following tenders were accepted for the current half year:

Meat - Messrs. W.G. Clark, Ware.

Bread - Mr C.S. Coates, 8 1/2d. and 9d.

Coal - Mr E.J. Sparkes, £1 15s. and £1 17s. 6d.

Milk - C. Smith, 1/- per gallon.

Haircutting - Mr C. Miles.

Coffins - Mr G. Saggers.

Groceries and Oilman's Goods - Messrs. Forrest Stores.

Clothing - Messrs. Hirst, Kettlewell & Co.

Soaps - Messrs. McDoughall and Robertson.

Boots - Messrs. Wilkins & Denton.

Mr Hayes: I notice that no tenders have been received from Buntingford butchers. Were the tender forms submitted to them?

The Clerk: Yes.

Mr Hayes: I think the meat supplied to the Institution should be inspected from time to time. I saw some recently and it struck me that it was not English.

The Master said Messrs. Clark's contract was satisfactory. It was only during the summer months that the meat was ever discoloured, and on any occasion when it had arrived in that condition Messrs. Clark always changed it.

The Rev. L.W. Wright asked if there were any other tenders for the supply of coals, and the Chairman said there was one from Messrs. Nash, of Royston.

12th Oct 1928 - Buckland Harvest Festival

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Harvest Festital [sic]

The Buckland Harvest Thanksgiving Services were held at St Andrew's Church on Friday evening in last week and on the following Sunday. The services were of a specially bright nature, and the Church was tastefully decorated. There were good congregations on each occasion.

On the Friday evening the Rev. L.A. Ewart, Rector of Aspenden, preached the sermon, taking for his text "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee" (St. Like xii., 20). It was a stirring address, making a strong impression on all present, and although lengthy was far too short for most of the congregation.

The good old harvest hymns were heartily sung, and an excellent anthem rendered by the choir while the congregation was seated. It was taken from the words "While the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest shall not erase."

The Rector, Rev. A.J. McKinney, accompanied the choir on the organ for the anthem.

The Rector conducted the Sunday morning service, giving an excellent address on thankfulness. The hymns were heartily sung, and after the service there was a celebration of Holy Communion. The Rector also conducted a children's service in the afternoon, when the young people brought offerings of fruit and eggs.

The church was filled for the evening service, when the Rural Deal, Rev. Mc C. Kerr, Rector of Wydiall, preached from the text "A joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful" (Psalm 147). He emphasised thankfulness as being a fact in our lives. The choir again rendered the anthem, Miss F. Pigg presiding at the organ.

The following were responsible for the decorations: Mrs McKinney (east windows, choir stalls and reading desk), Mrs Morris (pulpit), Miss N. Pigg (lectern), Mrs J. And Mrs H. Carter (font and windows), Mesdames J. Hurry, C. Jackson, South, Whitby and others (windows).

The collections throughout the festival amounted to £7 2s., and were divided between the Royston Hospital and Addenbrooke's Hospital at Cambridge. The fruit and vegetables were also sent to Royston.

12th Feb 1926 - Buntingford Rural District Council

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Buntingford Rural District Council

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Buntingford Rural District Council was held at the Council Offices on Thursday last week.

Present - Mr C Fraser (in the chair), Capt E.T. Morris, Capt H.H. Williams, The Rev. L.W. Wright, Messrs A.W. Page, H.C. Marshall, W.J. May, E. Bygrave, J.C. Pigg, F.B. Cannon, H.E. Dudley, A.J. Hayes, W.H. Kittow, C. Hummerstone, G. Graves, and G.C. Wilson, with the Surveyor (Mr E.G. Thody) and the Clerk (Mr E.C. Clarke).

SURVEYOR'S REPORT

The Surveyor presented his report as follows:

Isolation Hospital

No cases of infectious disease have been reporte during the past month, and the hospital remains closed.

Waterworks

The consumption of water during the past month has been:

1st week - 238,000 gallons.

2nd week - 240,000 gallons.

3rd week - 250,000 gallons.

4th week - 244,000 gallons.

The water level has risen 12ins. and now stands at 40ft., being 3ft. flower than at February last year.

Licences

Application is made for the renewal of 9 petrol and 2 carbide of calcium licences.

Norfolk Road

Plans showing the proposed scheme in connection with Norfolk Road are submitted. The total length of the road is 537 feet, and width 28ft. In addition to the road it is proposed to provide two footpaths 4ft. wide and a storm water drain with four surface gullies. The tenements number 30 with a frontage of 709ft., whilst land with a further frontage of 366ft. remains undeveloped.

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It was reported that owing to the bad state of the roads it was impossible to get road material delivered in some districts.

Mr F.B. Cannon said he thought the road material should be carted during the summer months. This was generally agreed and the matter was left to the Surveyor to deal with.

Applications were submitted for one of the Council houses at Meesden, and it was agreed to let it to an applicant who was at present in lodgings.

An application for a subsidy in connection with a proposed bungalow at Cromer was considered and granted.

A letter was read from one of the tenants of the Sunny Hill houses, asking for permission to replace the kitchener in the living room by a register stove. After discussion the request was agreed to.

MOTOR TRAFFIC

The Chairman said the Sub-Committee appointed to go into the matter of the sign boards, warning motor traffic to slow down while travelling through the town, had approved of a warning board, and that tenders for supplying and fixing the boards had been received.

The tenders were as follows:

Mr C.H. Poulton 4 19 6

Messrs Hamilton 5 10 0

Messrs Attwood 5 16 0

On the proposition of Captain Williams, seconded by the Revd L.W. Wright, Mr C.H. Poulton's tender was accepted.

The question of suitable sites for the boards was left to the sub-committee.

Mr C. Hummerstone asked whether the large board at Hillside could be removed. It was an eyesore.

Mr F.B. Cannon said the "Buntingford" board was of no use to local residents, but no doubt strangers found it useful.

Capt. Morris: It's quite as well to leave the board where it is, because I am often being asked where Buntingford is. (Laughter)

HORMEAD ROAD

A letter was read from a householder at Great Hormead point out the bad state of the road near the "Three Horseshoes" Public House, and the Surveyor was instructed to attend to the matter.

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(With regard to the above matter - the BUNTINGFORD board - we would like to state that the board has been lying on the ground for several weeks. - Ed.)